30 Aug 2015

Throughout 2014, Liverpool were constantly linked with a move for Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri, and in November, the player's agent publicly urged the Reds to make an official offer. Shaqiri ultimately ended up at Stoke City, and according to ex-Red Jamie Redknapp, the exciting attacker is going to be a great signing for the club.

"Shaqiri could be a fantastic signing. He is dynamite...and his cross for Stoke's goal at Norwich was superb. You have to wonder why a so-called top club didn't go for him".

Liverpool definitely wanted to sign Shaqiri, the player himself confirmed this in September 2014, when he told Sky Sports:

"Liverpool made a bid (€18m) for me, but Bayern put their foot down and told me, ‘We’re not going to sell you’".

Despite that knock-back, speculation continued, and in November, Shaqiri's agent made the following public plea:

"At this age, he [Shaqiri] needs to play regularly. We are now waiting [for] Liverpool, Manchester United, Inter Milan and other top clubs”

£12m - the price Stoke paid - is a fair, affordable price for a player of Shaqiri's pedigree and experience, so when the chance arose this summer, why didn't Liverpool take it?

As the first four games of the season show, Liverpool are struggling for goals, especially from the club's alleged attacking midfielders, and although he's only played two games, Shaqiri already has one assist to his name (which is one more than any LFC midfielder/attacking player)

Of course, there's no guarantee that Shaqiri will do the business in the Premier League, but his senior career record to date is creditable:

* 92 goals/assists in 232 games (Goal/assist every 2.5 games)

* 17 goals in 46 games for Switzerland.

Liverpool splurged £46m on Lallana and Markovic, yet it won't surprise me in the slightest to see Shaqiri outperform both this season.